Super Ideals are Expensive, but Brick-and-Mortar Stores Signature Diamonds are More Expensive!

Some of us may know that super ideals come with a premium, but why are these stones still selling well? In my opinion, this is because the premium that is factored into the diamond prices of those signature diamonds in brick-and-mortar stores are higher! I was quoted RM 17K for a 50-pointer together with a 18k white gold ring. Of course, this is the price before any negotiation, but I honestly do not think that I can get a few thousand Ringgit discount off the original quoted price, which is where the price of a high quality super ideal together with a 18k white gold ring stands. I can't remember the colour and clarity of the stone that was quoted to me, but I doubt it is a D VVS2 like this one.

0.508ct D VVS2 WhiteFlash ACA Collection Series Actual Diamond Image

0.508ct D VVS2 WhiteFlash ACA Collection Series Actual Diamond IdealScope

0.508ct D VVS2 WhiteFlash ACA Collection Series Actual Diamond ASET

0.508ct D VVS2 WhiteFlash ACA Collection Series Actual Diamond Hearts

This stone is extremely well-cut. I might complain about the 2 o'clock hearts which seems to exhibit an almost non-existent bending tip, as well as the 6 o'clock arrow head at the actual diamond image that shows that the arrow head is very very slighly tilted to the left side. But again, when you go to such level of details, it is crazy because this is one hell of a diamond. The fact that WhiteFlash is showing such large image is beneficial to the consumer, but not so beneficial to themselves. Why? Simple, try to zoom out your browser window, you can see the bending tip becomes less obvious, and this can easily make the diamond looks better. Not sure is because they want to be more transparent, or they simply don't mind or maybe don't care at all. Nonetheless, after seeing terrible hearts and so-called Hearts & Arrows diamond from some other places, I really can't neglect this diamond, it is very good. If I am in the market searching for something with extremely white and extremely eye-clean, this will be the one, as of now.

Now, the price for this stone is USD 2701, which converts to RM 11382.22 using MoneyMatch at the exchange rate of 4.2141. Use my referral code REF_ACOO to get RM 50 off first transaction! Be ready to pay RM 8 transaction fee though.

MoneyMatch

Then, we move on to the ring. Memory Jewellery engagement ring starts from RM 1499 and the price may still be negotiable a bit. Finally, we just take the final amount of the diamond without any discount and add it to the amount of the ring setting, which we can safely assume it is RM 1499, the total will be RM 12881.22. Let's just round up to RM 13k.

So, let's look back - RM 17 vs RM 13k. And that RM 17k stone's colour and clarity is highly unlikely to be the same as this 0.508ct D VVS2 WhiteFlash ACA Collection Series stone! Heck, to save further, I can even consider this Black by Brian Gavin stone - A 0.513ct E VS1 stone which is cut to exacting standard. The price? USD 2525, which converts to RM 10640.54. Let's just round up to RM 11k. They do not give out free delivery but if you are buying a Black by Brian Gavin, you can probably ask nicely for it. But from now until the end of the year, you don't have to ask because they are providing free shipping! So, 11k vs 17k for a signature diamond from brick-and-mortar store? I don't know about you, but I would prefer to save a few thousand Ringgit for my honeymoon! Despite buying from a brick-and-mortar store allows you to see the actual diamond in real life, but buying online allows you to analyze the diamond's performance images, along with the highly zoomed actual diamond video, which can be just as good, or even better because you can actually understand the details of what you are buying more. Of course, in some more affordable brick-and-mortar stores, their diamond price can compete with the super ideals I am affiliate with, but then again, we can usually only be able to see the actual diamond and not the precision of the Hearts, nor the performance images of the diamond. Because of this, I am still more inclined to buy online.

Ok, now, if we move on to normal ideal diamonds, this is where the one of the challenges to sell a super ideal diamond is. Why? This is because you can always get a normal ideal diamond at a substantial cheaper price, as far as Ringgit is concerned. What is ideal diamond? The truth is, there is really no actual definition. Some would say a GIA Triple Excellent diamond will be an ideal diamond. As for me, my definition for ideal diamond is that the diamond must meet the strict proportions of the WhiteFlash specs, with some leniency in terms of total diamond depth. And I am not saying this simply because I am affiliate with them. I am saying this because the numbers are close to the original Tolkowsky ideal cut proportions:

And they have proof to show that the proportions work. I give some leniency for total diamond depth because I find that diamonds that are deeper than 62% still do not leak light sometimes. For the savings part, I have managed to source a 40-pointer GIA Triple Excellent with ideal proportions and superb colour and clarity from Memory Jewellery for one of my clients before. That diamond shows clear and well-aligned arrows and has faint fluorescence, which is absolutely okay because AGS takes into account both GIA fluorescence none and GIA fluorescence faint as AGS fluoresence neglible. That diamond also states that it is 100% Hearts & Arrows, and although the overall look is promising, but without the actual Hearts image, it is hard to tell whether the Hearts & Arrows precision is as good as those from WhiteFlash or Brian Gavin Diamonds. There is also no ASET and IdealScope to check on the light return. Nonetheless, I believe the differences won't be as substantial as the price difference, so it is very much worth it, as far as Ringgit is concerned. Such good stones are actually hard to get, so please do not expect that all stones that are sold by Memory Jewellery is good. I can easily find tonnes of not-so-good stones compared to a very good one. You will have better chance to land on a better stone if you adhere to WhiteFlash ACA specs, and that is provided if you able to filter out any stones at all.

Ideal diamonds aside, another challenge is that the price of typical a Triple Excellent is also very tempting. When you can have a 0.4ct E VVS2 diamond together with 18k white gold ring that comes with side-stones at RM 6299.00, you will be very very tempted.

Tailored Jewel Promotion

Same goes for the constant promotion that is being offered by ZCOVA.

ZCOVA Promotion

At the end of the day, only you yourself knows what to get for your partner. My advice is, always stick to your budget and try to get what your budget can bring you. If sacrificing cut can get your a bigger stone, which is what you prefer, then by all means do that. If sacrificing size for a better cut, which is what you prefer, then again, by all means, do that. Heck, if you prefer to buy from a traditional brick-and-mortar store, you can just do that as well. There is really no right or wrong. I am usually just giving you options to choose from based on your budget. Best of luck for those who are on the hunt for an engagement ring!